Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 March 2024
16. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department played any role in the failed bid to have the EU anti-money laundering authority located in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10966/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 22 February the Council of the EU and the European Parliament reached an agreement to locate the seat of the future authority for anti-money laundering and countering terrorist financing (AMLA) in Frankfurt.
Since the Government’s declaration of our bid, led by my colleague the Minister for Finance, Mr Michael McGrath, TD, to host AMLA, officials in my Department have worked intensively to promote Ireland as the location of choice for AMLA.
Officials in my Department collaborated with their colleagues in the Department of Finance to co-ordinate Ireland’s offers to host AMLA. During the process of building support for our AMLA bid, we engaged with all Member States and the European Parliament. This included a number of Ministerial visits to capitals, including by Minister of State Carroll MacNeill, which were supported by our Embassy network, which also provided extensively reporting and analysis on the progress of the AMLA campaign. I, along with other Ministers and officials, also met with counterparts on the margins of EU meetings, to promote Ireland’s bid.
Minister for Finance, Mr Michael McGrath TD and Minister of State, Ms Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD represented Ireland at the joint hearings, between the European Parliament and Council, which took place in Brussels on 30 January supported by Ireland’s Permanent Representative to the EU and other senior officials.
Ireland’s bid to host AMLA was regarded by other Member States, the EU Commission and the European Parliament as strong. This was a highly competitive process. We were disappointed. However, our strong performance in the process and our engagement has enhanced Ireland’s reputation in the EU and it has helped strengthen our ties and relationships across a range of Member States
